Dr. Joel P. Jones, age 77, passed away on September 6 at Highlands Health and Rehab in Bella Vista, Arkansas.

Joel grew up in Mineral Springs, Arkansas and attended Henderson State University. He graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in 1973. He joined the Army as a dentist and was stationed at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama for two years. He received the Army Commendation Medal. Joel remained in the Army Reserves and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

He began his dentistry practice in Arkadelphia, Arkansas in 1975 and retired in 2000. He was a very talented and caring dentist. He served as President of the Southwest District Dental Association, was Vice President of the Arkansas State Dental Association, and served on the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners.

He was a member of the Arkadelphia Rotary Club, where he served as President and Vice-President. He was a member of the Bella Vista Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow. Joel was also active in the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce, where he served on the Board of Directors.

Joel was a member of St. Stephen's Church. While living in Arkadelphia he served on a medical dental mission trip to Guatemala. He was also a member of the disaster relief chainsaw team and helped after several hurricanes.

After retirement he managed the family pine tree farm at Patmos, Arkansas. He was a member of the Arkansas Forestry Association. He supported conservation and forestry.

In 2004 he and his wife, Janie, moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas, to be closer to their son and daughter-in-law. At their small farm in Pea Ridge, they planted hundreds of trees along with their son and grandsons.

Joel and Janie enjoyed traveling, camping, hiking, kayaking, and skiing. He and Janie and their grandson enjoyed walking dogs at the Bella Vista Animal Shelter. Joel had a dry sense of humor, and his children, grandsons, nieces and nephews have many heartwarming and hilarious Uncle Joel stories.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Darwin and Effie Jones, and his brother, Michael D. Jones.

Joel is survived by his wife, Janie, of 54 years; his son, Brian; and daughter-in-law, Beth; his grandsons, Denver and Dillon Jones; his sister, Jan Studdard and husband, Danny; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and his dog, Shiloh.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Stephens Catholic Church, 1300 NE J Street, Bentonville, AR 72712.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joel's honor to Bella Vista Animal Shelter, 32 Bella Vista Way, Bella Vista, AR 72714 or to the Joel Jones Memorial Scholarship, Henderson State University, 1100 Henderson Street, HSU Box 7550, Arkadelphia, AR 71999 or at https://alumni.hsu.edu/joeljonesmemorial.